In January of last year, the group held their launch at the Spruce Grove Public Library. What started as a small gathering of a handful of children has morphed into regular meetings where more than 20 people on average can be themselves.

For founder Jody Tucker, it represents the proverbial rainbow after a severe storm.

“My child Ash is non-binary and in October 2017 they were severely threatened and bullied,” she said. “We did not press charges, made Ash as safe as possible in a public school and then decided to make some changes to Spruce Grove instead.”

The earliest meeting of the group was attended by New Democratic Party MLA Trevor Horne, Spruce Grove Mayor Stuart Houston and others. Initially, they spent time in the library, but moved to St. Andrew’s United Church when the site offered them a space to use for free for the meetings currently held once every month.

Though Tucker does not pay rent and does at times receive community support, Spruce Grove’s GSA does not receive the same level of aid as similar groups based within the schools.

“We do not have funding,” Tucker said. “I have to apply for grants and pay for everything out of pocket unless we get donations. Anything extra costs money.”

Costs so far for each month the group has been around have averaged around $200. At times, special things cannot be done, but, last May, the Queer-Straight Alliance of Parkland County teachers donated funds for Tucker’s GSA kids to attend their first Queer Youth Prom in Edmonton. This was one of 2018’s highs for Tucker.

“That they came together to help our GSA out is phenomenal,” she wrote in an email detailing points of the year. “All our youth went together. It was fantastic.”

A cake to mark the one-year anniversary of Spruce Grove’s Gay-Straight Alliance. The group formed after founder Jody Tucker’s child was bullied. Since then, she has been amazed at the acceptance.Submitted photo

Other moments for the club and its minority youth in their first year of existence included trips to see the movie Love, Simon and walking in the Stony Plain Rotary Parade in June. Tucker says the level of acceptance so far for the GSA is amazing.

“It has been a positive response and we have been welcomed with open arms,” Tucker said. “There has not been any negative response to my knowledge. Kids in the high schools get bullied and deal with a lot, but I am unafraid. If I lived in the United States, I would be afraid to do what I do. With the support of our current government, I am not afraid. It will get easier when advocates stand with us.”

In the years to come, Tucker hopes to increase the meetings for the GSA to twice a month, see more supportive action from the City and effect more change in others.

“I would love to see Spruce Grove raising the pride flag on a flag pole,” she said. “We need to expand our meetings and people need to learn to not make jokes or laugh at us. The person in your room, your friend or family members may want to confide in you and are afraid to. Stand with us and be bold and an advocate.”

The Spruce Grove Gay-Straight Alliance meets the second Friday of each month in the basement of St. Andrew’s Church from 7 to 9 p.m. More information can be found by visiting sprucegrovegsasociety.org or searching for them on Facebook.